Protective turret.



R. B. EVERETT.

PROTECTIVE TURRET.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14 1914.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES 5 ATTORNEYS R. B. EVERETT.

PROTECTIVE TURRET.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14. 19:4.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR 137246 flfwefi ATTORNEYS rrr, or m, a a

PBOTEOTIVE To all whom it may concern citizen of the United States, and a resident of Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Protective Turrets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an armored or protective turret, and one of the rincipal objects thereof is to provide a b et-proof turret which may be laced in a bank or similar building in w ich money or valuables are kept, or which may be placed in a prison, or mounted on an automobile, or mounted in the express or baggage car of a train, or any suitable car of a train, and which may be occupied by' a guard, who is protected from bullets or shots of a burglar or robber, the construction being such as to allow the guard to shootirom within the turret with a minimum chance of'himself being harmed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a turret of the class described having a horizontally rotatable in which is pivoted a vertically movable door, the latter having pivoted therein a horizontally rotatable gun rest, whereby by properly manipulating the ring, door and -rest, the occupant of the turret may bn his firearm to point in any desired direction within certain limitations. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a turret of the class described having means for mounting the same whereby it may be moved from side to side of a car, and having means whereby the interior of the turret may be well ventilated.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel rotatable gun-rest including a cylinder having an opening therein through which a gun may be projected and having a heavy glass mounted therein just,

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1915.

Application filed April 14, 1914. Serial No. 881,731.

of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanymg drawings in which like characters of reference indicate like arts throughout the several figures, of whichigure 1 represents a perspective view of the turret mounted upon a car of a train, Iflg. 2 represents a vertical, transverse, sectional view taken through the turret, Fig. 3 represents a view similar to Fig. 2, taken at right angles thereto, Fig. 4 represents a detail, horizontal, sectional view, taken through the pivoted door and the gun-rest mounted therein on the lane indicated by the hue 4-4 of Fig. 5, ig. 5 represents a detail, elevational view taken from the in side of the turret, and showing the gunrm mounted within the pivoted door, Fig.

lower sections of the cylinder and rotatable.

relatively thereto. The method of mounting the ring is shown in'Fi 7 in which the lower section 6 is shown as aving its upper edge provided with anofi'setflan e10,spa from an inner flan e 11 secure by means of rivets 12 to the ower section, a distance substantiall equal to the thiclmess of the metal constituting the ring 9, and said ring at its lower edge projects between flanges 10 and 11, and rests on a number of small wheels or rollers 13, interposed between the flanges and riding on the upper edge of the lower section, whereby the ring 9 maybe easily rotated upon its axis. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the upper edge of ring 9 is formed in the same manner as is the upper edge of section 6, that is, with the 0&- set flange and the inner flange, and said flanges embrace opposite sides of the lower edge of the upper section 5 of the cylinder.

Weather strips 59 are provided tooverhang the flanges 10 to protect the bearings from the elements. The ring is secured to the arms 60 by a hanger which is pivoted at its center on a pin 61 secured centrally of top 8, so that the ring is substantially sus pended between the'upper and lower sections of the turret in such a manner as to be readily rotated with a minimum of friction.

The upper and lower sections of the turret are secured rigidly to ether, by means of a: number of straps or races 14, which are secured at their ends to the sections, and which are so formed that their intermediate portions are disposed in spaced relation to the ring 9, to allow clearance for a guard plate 15, and 15', positioned on the ring, whereby the ring may be rotated without danger of the guard plates coming-in contact with the braces.

Mounted within a rectangular opening cut in one side of the movable ring isa door 16 which is flat and which is hinged at its lower edge, as at 17 to the ring, whew by the door may swing in a vertical plane at right angles to the horizontal plane in which the ring rotates, and pivotall mounted in an opening provided central y of the door is a gun-rest 18 which may be swung vfrom side to side in'a plane atright angles to the lane of movement'of the door and parallel with the plane of rotation of the rm 'l he purpose of having the door pivoted so that it may be swung outwardly, is to allow the occupant of the turret to project his weapon throu h the gun-rest, and swing the door outwar ly so that he may shoot downwardly. In order that the openin which would otherwise occur between t e side edges and the top of the door when the same is swung outwardly,may be closed to prevent entrance of bullets when the door is swung outwardly, the ring is provided at:

each .side of the door opening with vertically disposed substantially triangular shaped guard lates 15 which are wider at their upper e ges, and taper downwardly, said guard plates being connected by a metal hood 19, which is curved transversely to conform to the curvature of the are in which the upper edge of the door travels and projecting inwardly from the side edges of the door to which they are secured are a pair of'plates 20 similar to lates 15, and like said plates 15 connected y a hood 21, which is also curved transversely, said hood and plates 20 adapted to fit snugly within the hood 19 and plates 15 when the door is swung outwardly, so as to provide an'effective protection for the openings which would occur at the top and side edges of the door.

In order that the weight of the door may be counterbalanced so that the door will remain'in any adjusted position, a weight 22 is provided, which is connected to one end of a flexible element 23, the other end of which is secured iii an eye 24 fastened to the under-face ofhood 21 near one of the rear corners thereof, said element inter mediate its length being passed over pulleys 25 carried on the outer end of a bracket 26, projecting inwardly from rin 9 and positioned just to one side of the oor.

As illustrated ,in Fig. 2, vthe ring may be provided with a door 16, hinged at its upper edgeand provided with a'gun rest 18, so that the door may be swung out- \vardly and upwardlv to allow the occupant to shoot upwardly should occasion require. Guard plates 15, 20', 19', and 21' are provided for door 16' and are positioned in upside-down relation to the guard plates of door 16, for obvious reasons, and the gun rest 18' is set in the door 16' in upright position. Door 16' may be balan'ced by. a weight arranged similarly to weight 22. a

The gun rest comprises a metal c linder 27 having a circular cap. 28 remova 1y positioned thereon by means of machine screws 29, said cap provided with a cylindrical stem 30, similar to a cylindrical stem 31,

formed on the lower face of cylinder 27, said'stems acting as the bearings for the gun rest by means of which it may be pivotallymounted in a vertical position within an opening in the door 16, said bearings being mounted in cylindrical recesses in plates 32 secured by means of screws or other suitable fastening means 33 to door 16, at, the upper and'lower edges of the opening whereby the gun rest is pivotally mounted in said opening. The diameter of the gun rest is much greater than thethickness of the door. An opening 3-1 is provided diametrically of the gun rest, and is of a shape to receive the barrel of a suitable fire-arm, not shown, and immediately above the opening 34 is positioned in the gun rest a cubical glass block '35 through which the occupant of the turret may observe any would-be robbers or burglars, and through which he may see in orderto obtain an accurate'sight of his gun. The

glass block is disposed in the enlarged central portidn ofa recess or opening cut in the upper portion of cylinder 27, and disposed diametrically thereof, and extending entirely through said cylinder in alinement with the opening 34, the width of the opening cut in the cylinder being less than its length, however, so that solid portions will be left on either side of the opening to embrace the sides of the glass block, said solid portions being slightly recessed so as to receive the block and revent its displacement laterally in either direction, it being understood that in order to place the block in position, the cap 28 must be removed, and after said cap has been put in place, the block will be held in position against movement in any direction. The width of the block is somewhat less than the length of the opening in which it is placed, thus leaving an unoccupied space at what may be termed the front and rear faces of the block, and in said spaces are positioned one or more metallic gratings, comprising vertically disposed equally spaced fiat members 36, connected by similar spaced parallel horizontal members 37. The gratings thus provided occupy spaces at the front and rear of the block, and thus effectually protect the same from injury, and at the same time allow a clear vision to be had through the glass block. A number of gratings of varying mesh may be placed on each side of block if found desirable.

When the weapon is withdrawn from the gun-rest the opening 34 may be closed, it so desired, by means of a plate 38 pivoted on a set screw 39, threaded into the cylinder 27 below the gun opening. -The plate is provided with a hook 40 adapted to engage over a pin 41, when in the position to cover the opening 34, by means of which together with the tightening of the set screw 39, the

plate may be maintained in position to cover said opening, when desired.

In' order that the turret may be sufliciently ventilated, it is provided near its upper and lower ends with a number of openings 42 protected from the entrance of bullets on the outside by means of shields 43 open at their lower ends and which extend somewhat below the openings 42, and admit air thereto only through the open lower ends, said openings 42, on the inner side of the turret being protected by shields 44, similar to shields 43, except that if so desired the lower shields 44 may be somewhat. less in length than shields 43, so as notto project below the edges of the lower openings 42, whereby a freer circulation of air may be allowed through the lower openings, it being less likel that. a bulletcould be projected'througli one of the lower openings 42 within shields 43, than through one o the upper openings for the reason that the upper openings are higher from the ground or object upon which the turret-rests; By reason of the position and formation of the shields 43 and 44, itis evident that access of bullets to the interior of the turret through the ventilatin openings will be efiectually prevented. nough openings may be provided to allow a sufliclent circulation of air through the turret so that, if wa or desirable, a heater may be placed therein to warm the occupant. The roof or top 8 may be provided with a plurality of heavy glass or other transparent studs 45, so that the interior of the turret may .be sufiiciently lighted. In the lower section 6 of the turrek an entrance door 46 is provided which is hinged so as to open inwardly ,to allow the entrance and exit of the occupant of the turret and the door may be provided with any suitable means by which it may be locked in closed position from the inside.

Although the turret has been shown and described as being provided with but one movable door 16 and gun-rest 18, it will be understood that the number and arrangement of movable doors and gun rests is optional, and may be determined by the requirements in any particularcase.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the turret may be mounted upon a car immediately in front of the baggage car of a train, or at any other suitable point, and in order to allow of movement of the turret transversely of the car, the platform of the latter is provided with a pair of spaced rails 47 extending transversely of the car and projecting at their ends slightly beyond the opposite edges of the platform of the said car, and the turret is provided with two pair of flanged wheels 48 suitably mounted in brackets 49, depending from the bottom 7, and midway between the rails and parallel therewith is disposed a rack bar 50, which intermediate its ends occurs in somewhat spaced relation with the platform of the car,said ends being provided with depending brackets 51, by means of which the bar may be fastened to the platform of the car, and centrally of bottom 7, and depending therefrom is positioned a substantially U-shaped keeper 52, which embraces the rack bar 50, but not in frictional engagement therewith, the object of keeper 52 being to prevent the rocking of the turret upon the tracks or the overturning of said turret.

' Mounted within the turret centrally of the bottom thereof is a pair of uprights 53 in the upper. ends of which is journaled a shaft 54, 105 upon which is keyed a cog wheel 55 which at'its lower periphery rojects through an opening in the bottom 7 and engages with the rack bar 50, said shaft 54 having keyed thereon a crank handle 56 by means of which no the cog wheel may be rotated, thus moving the turret uponits tracks to one side or the other of the car, as may be desired. The tracks are extended slightly beyond the sides of the car platform, so that the turret may ms be brought to partiall overhang the platform of the car, and e thus positioned to one side of the train so that the occupant of the turret may shoot in either direction alongside of the train to prevent the entrance 12a of robbers to the cars.

Although I have described the preferredembodiment of my invention, I may desire to make such changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as 1% do not de art from the spirit of the inventioIn aind e scope of the appended claims.

1.. A protective turret including anupper and lower cylindrical section, saidupper secme tion being provided with a top, and said lower section with a bottom, an intermediate section in the form of a ring of a diameter equal to the diameter of the upper and lower sections, said ring being rotatably positioned relative to said upper and lower sections, a flat-door hinged at its lower edge within an opening provided in the ring, a guard pro- ,jecting outwardly from said ring and partially mclosing the door o'peningysaid guard comprising substantially triangular shaped side pieces and a transversely piece connecting said side pieces at their upper edges, a second guard projecting inwardly from said door and comprising substantially triangular shaped side pieces secured to the side edges of the door, last said side pieces connected by a second transversely curved top piece, said second guard adapted to slide within the first guard when the door is swung upon its hinges, a weight for counterbalancing the weight of said door, said door being movable in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the ring, a gun rest positioned vertically within an opening in said door and revoluble in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the door, said turret provided with braces connecting theupper and lower sections, said braces intermediate their ends being disposed in spaced relation to said ring whereby to allow clearance of first said guard, said upper and lower sections provided with ventilating openings, shields p0 sitioned over said openings within and without said turret and adapted to prevent the entrance of bullets through the ventilating openings, a door for allowing entrance and exit to said turret, and means for positioning said turret whereby it may be bodily moved upon a support. I

2. A protectiveturret' including an upper and lower section, a ring disposed between them and rotatable relative to the upper and lower sections, a door pivoted within an opening in said rin and movable in a plane at right angles to t e plane of movement of the ring, guards provided on said ring and door and adapted to enact to close the openings occurring between said door and ring when the former is swung outwardly upon its pivot pin, and a gun-rest within an opening in said door, said gun-rest including a cylindrical member, having a removable circular cap, said cap. and cylindrical member provided with stems, plates on which said stems are mounted, said plates adapted to be secured to said door for positioning said gun-rest thereon, said gun-rest provided with an opening therein for receiving the barrel of a'gun and provided with a re cess above said opening, a glass block positioned, within said recess, a grating positioned within said recess to the front and rear of said block to protect the mines plate,

curved top a set screw threaded into said gun rest below the opening therein, on which said plate is pivoted, said plate adapted to be turned :said door, means for counterbalancing the weight of said door, means for ventilating said turret, a track, wheels carried by said turret for mounting the same upon said track, a rack bar, a keeper embracing said rack bar and secured to said turret, a cog wheel positioned in said turret and extending through an opening therein to engage said rack bar, and a crank handle for rotating'said cog wheel.

4. A protective turret including an upper and lower section, a ring rotatably positioned between them, a door pivoted insaid ring, means for closing the openings occurring between said door and ring, when the former is swung on its pivot, a gun-rest ivoted in said door and revoluble ina p ane at right angles to the plane of movement of the door, said door movable in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the ring.

5. A protective turret including a ring, a door pivoted thereon, and a gun-rest pivoted in said door, said gun-rest comprising a cylinder having an opening therein for re ceiving the barrel of a gun, a transparent element positioned in a recess in the cylinder above the gun opening, and means for pro tectin the transparent element.

6. protective turret including a cylinder, a ring of substantiallythe same diam eter as said cylinder, and positioned to move independently thereof, a gun rest, means for mounting said gun rest whereby the same is movable in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement of the ring, and is revoluble at right angles to Jest said plane, and means whereby said turret may be movably mounted upon a sup ort.

7. Aprotective turret including a 'cylin-" der, having a ring rotatable independently thereof, a gun rest, means for mounting said gun rest whereby the same is, movable in a plurality of directions independently of the movement of the ring, a transparent element by means of which vision may be had through said gun rest, means for protecting said element, and means for movably mounting said turret upon a support.

8. A protective turret including a cylinderhaving an upper and lower section, a ring rotatably mounted between them, a hanger pivoted within the upper section of the turret, said hanger secured to said ring, doors pivoted in openings in said ring, one at its bottom edge and the other at its top edge, said doors adapted to swing outwardly, guard means for the doors, and means for balancing the doors in adjusted position.

9. A protective turret having a rotatable element movable circumferentially of the turret, a gun rest, and means for mounting the rest relatively to the rotatable element whereby a gun may be moved circumferentially of the turret and in a-plane extending axially thereof, and swung in a plane at right angles to last said plane.

10. A protective turret including an upper and a lower section, braces connecting the sections and maintaining them in spaced relation, a hanger rotatably supported by the npper section, a ring earned by the hanger and disposed between and rotatable relatively to the upper and lower sections, and a gun rest mounted in the ring.

11. protective turret including an upper and a lower section, a ring mounted between them and rotatable relatively thereto, a swinging door carried by the ring, a gun rest journaled in the door, and means for counter-balancing the door when the same is swung on its pivot.

RUFUS B. EVERETT.

Witnesses:

C.- G. Gmnnsrm, W. W. SWIFT. 

